I am an attorney licensed to practice in CA and CO who currently teaches Sports Law and Sports Governance at the University of Miami. I founded RulingSports.com in 2011 and since then have appeared on hundreds of television and radio shows internationally to provide commentary and analysis on sports law and sports business issues. Along with writing for Forbes, I cover sports for The Huffington Post and blog about life as a 20-something at www.aliciajessop.com.

Joe Namath Sounds Off On The Jets, Super Bowl XLVIII And Pro Football Hall Of Fame

They call him “Broadway Joe.” With an electrifying personality and an arm to match, Joe Namath took the football world by storm throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Leaving his mark while playing for legendary coaches and franchises with his impressive throwing capability and characteristic hi jinx, Namath dug his way into the hearts of American football fans. Now, at 70-years-old, Namath is working to secure the history of the sport he loved and provided his livelihood.

Today, Namath will stand alongside Pro Football Hall of Fame executives to cut the ribbon for the hall of fame’s $27 million expansion. Falling in the hall of fame’s 50th anniversary year, the 33,000-square-foot expansion marks the first time since 1995 that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has undergone an expansion renovation. For Namath, his involvement in the celebration was a no-brainer. “Are you kidding me? I didn’t need much motivation to participate; it’s an honor. When I was inducted in 1985 and became a part of it and saw how the people supported the athletes, I realized that it is a tremendous honor to be part of a showplace for a sport loved by millions of people,” Namath said.

While Namath will likely wear a warm smile while cutting the ribbon at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one thing his certain: He will not shy away from his opinions on a number of topics related to his beloved game of football.

At the heart of Namath’s opinions, are his feelings related to his former team, the New York Jets. Although the team has missed the NFL postseason for the last two seasons, while also being embroiled in a quarterback controversy that was punctuated by locker room issues, Namath has nothing short of hope for the Jets this season. “It’s going to be fun. I’m a fan and what’s behind us, we learn from, I hope. I’ve seen teams finish in last place come back and finish in first place. We’ve seen wildcard teams win the Super Bowl. These pro athletes are gifted. Now, can they put it together as a a team? That remains to be seen. I don’t like the idea of people saying that the Jets don’t have a chance this season. As a former player, I always believed we could win and I believe that this year’s players believe that, too. They need to improve their play, but I wouldn’t write them off,” Namath noted.

Although Namath isn’t writing the Jets off for a playoff berth, one thing he isn’t willing to write off is that Mark Sanchez will be the team’s starting quarterback this season. “This is very simple. The team has June, July and August to decide who its quarterback will be. They need to judge the talent that they have and how they work from now until September. They need to see how Sanchez and Smith perform and give McElroy a chance, too. You have to start the guy the team believes is the best player. I think Sanchez has an edge because of his experience in dealing these last four seasons against NFL defenses. That experience factor alone is on his side, but the job is up for grabs,” Namath argued.

When discussing New York Jets quarterbacks, one topic never goes unmentioned: Tim Tebow. Namath, the first 4,000-yard passer, has advice on what the young quarterback needs to do to find a spot on an NFL roster. “I hope he plays in the NFL again. The only thing that has been problematic for Tim, is being a good passer and throwing the various routes that are run while passing the ball accurately and maybe a little more quickly. If he honed his passing skills, he would still be in the NFL,” Namath explained.

In an age when the NFL faces many critics, it perhaps has found its biggest supporter in Namath. While the former quarterback is quick to point out what the Jets and its quarterbacks could do better, he is also quick to laud the measures the NFL has taken to improve the league and the sport of football. Known for his sideline antics, which included wearing full-length fur coats–a practice the NFL has banned–Namath asserts that if the NFL would have precluded him from wearing a fur coat on the sideline, he would have complied. “I would have followed the rules. We didn’t have that kind of a rule back then. Things started getting a little squirrely, though. I remember Jim McMahon wearing a headband that said something about the commissioner and guys wearing jewelry around their neck during games. The NFL has improved over the years. Football is a complicated game; it’s a tough one to play. The rules have changed for the better. Change is a constant, and the NFL has done a wonderful job changing and putting out the product that we have today,” he said.

With change being a constant, one recently adopted NFL change will bring Namath back to his professional football home. The NFL’s decision to host the Super Bowl at an outdoor stadium in a cold winter region means that Super Bowl XLVIII will be played at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets, in 2014. For the teams’ fans, Namath is nothing but thrilled. Yet, he does have some concerns. “I hope the Giants and Jets play each other. That would really be a trip. The support that the New Yorkers and New Jersey people have given to pro football over the years means that they deserve a shot at this, and I’m glad they got it. I used to scratch my head [over the NFL's decision to host the game there], but those people are fans and deserve the right to host the Super Bowl. Playing outdoors in February though, well, hopefully mother nature cooperates.

Broadway Joe. A man with a beaming smile, who could throw the football better than most, and who could always be counted on to tell it like it is.

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